October Newsletter
2015
October has historically meant that it is Open Enrollment time. Open Enrollment is the period during which current, benefit-eligible Tri-Valley employees select their benefits for the coming year. With the Open Enrollment period being upon us, I thought that I would highlight a change for the coming year. Faithful readers will recall that Tri-Valley put its 401(k) services up for bid this year as a part of Tri-Valley’s regular RFP schedule. The results of the RFP process were that Bremer Wealth Management was selected by the Board of Directors over proposals by Empower Retirement and Mutual of America. The interesting wrinkle here is that Bremer Wealth Management uses the Empower Retirement platform. With that being the case I thought now would be a good time to let plan participants know what to expect. With Bremer, plan participants will have access to the Empower website and all of the same planning tools, etc. that we are used to. We will also have access to representatives from Bremer who will be setting up meetings around Tri-Valley’s service area. To make all of this happen, there will be a few steps we have to follow. Even though we are a current Empower client, our transition to Bremer means that we will look like a new client and will have to move our plan assets out of our current account to a new account. To move the assets, there has to be what is known as a blackout period. Communication about this will be forthcoming from Bremer. If you have any questions about this process, please let me know. October is also the time when the combined RFP results are decided on by the board of Minnesota Housing. Tri-Valley had an application in for tax credits to fund the Agassiz Townhomes project. Our application was not successful this round but we have a meeting set up with Minnesota Housing staff to improve our situation for the next round. I was finally able to attend a full Transportation Programs driver meeting in October. I saw some really good things and was very heartened to see the commitment to continuous improvement. Tri-Valley has a great crew providing safe and affordable public transportation to the area. Keep up the good work! Early in October I had the opportunity to participate in a meeting between Migrant and Seasonal Head Start grantees, Sandra Carton from Region XII and Dr. Blanca Enriquez. Dr. Enriquez is the director of the Office of Head Start. We had a very long but productive day and I came back from the meeting really feeling like there is an appetite to adapt as a program to meet the changing needs of farmworker families. I also had the opportunity to attend one of my favorite events of the year on October 7th. The Senior Recognition banquet is always a great day. I have the opportunity to thank our many volunteers personally and hear the wonderful stories written by individuals who have nominated volunteers for awards. This year, I had a special connection to an award winner. Grandma Bonnie Strand was presented with Starfish Award. Grandma Bonnie volunteers in my son’s Kindergarten room. I thought that was pretty neat, so did Charley.
In This Issue:
In This Issue:
* CEO News & Notes * Monticello In-Service Training * Bloggers Wanted * Foster Grandparent In-Service * Tri-Valley Employees Receive Their CDA * Mary Johnson - Champion of Child Safety * Tri-Valley Senior Programs Recognition Luncheon * Crookston United Way Cook-Off
* Upcoming Events * Foster Grandparents at Work * New East Grand Forks Signage * New Head Start / Early Head Start Officers Elected * Fire Department Visits Crookston Center * Fire Department Visits Monticello Center * Owatonna CulturFest * Monticello Fall Festival
Monticello In-Service Training The Monticello Center held a in-service training day on Friday, September 25th. Lindsay Vokaty (Center Manager) was the cash cab driver with all the questions from the PPR. "Lindsay Bucks" were awarded and Ginger Carlson (DQSA) was in charge of the "red light challenge". After the game they had an auction for some new items for the classroom. Tara Morrison (Program Area Manager) also gave a great training on wellness. It was a great day and all staff enjoyed playing the game and reviewing the procedures and policies.
Foster Grandparent In-Service The Foster Grandparent Program held the first in-service meeting of the 2015-2016 year on Friday September 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston. They were very fortunate to have Tracy Solheim, Education and Disability Services Manager for Tri-Valley Head Start as our speaker. She gave a very interesting and informational presentation on “Dealing with Challenging Children.� The Foster Grandparents were able to take home some handouts that they will be able to put to good use during their time with the students they volunteer with. The volunteers also had a chance to participate in small group activities and share with the entire group their thoughts on the activity. Many good questions were asked of Tracy. The afternoon session was spent going over program information with Senior Programs staff.
Bloggers Wanted! If you are interested in writing an occasional blog article for the Tri-Valley blog page, please email Mitch at mitch.bakken@tvoc.org.
Tri-Valley Employees Receive Their CDA Congratulations to Brenda Degollado (Winnebago), Monica Ramirez and Maria Murillo (Monticello) who completed their Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)!
Brenda Degollado
Monica Ramirez
Maria Murillo
Mary Johnson – Champion of Child Safety! Mary Johnson, Head Start Assistant Program Design Manager, was presented with the 2015 Champion of Child Safety award on September 24th, 2015 in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota during the seventh annual Minnesota Childhood Injury Summit. Mary was acknowledged for her many accomplishments and long-term dedication in helping protect children from unintentional injuries, with a particular focus on child passenger safety. Mary leads Head Start’s transportation committee, provides CPR, First Aid, and CARS training to our staff and parents, all in order to ensure our TVOC Head Start services are top-notch! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! Many thanks for your continued leadership in helping to keep children and staff safe in our Head Start programs!
Tri-Valley Foster Grandparent and Caring Companion Programs Hold Recognition Luncheon Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. Foster Grandparent and Caring Companion Programs held their annual recognition luncheon at the Crookston Eagles Club on Wednesday, October 7. Heidi Simmons, Senior Programs Director began the event by welcoming the 77 volunteers and guests to the banquet. Jason Carlson, Tri-Valley’s CEO then thanked all of the volunteers for the difference they are making in the lives of others in our communities. Following the welcome, the Starfish Award was given to individuals who have been nominated by teachers or others the volunteer works with. This year there were three recipients of this award from the Foster Grandparent Program. The award is based off the story of an old man who walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish. It goes: A young man was picking the starfish up and flinging them back into the ocean. “Why do you bother?” the old man scoffed. “You’re not saving enough to make a difference. The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back into the water. “Made a difference to that one,” he said. Recipients of the Starfish Award were Grandma Emojean Anderson who volunteers at Tri-County School in Karlstad and has been a volunteer since 2003, Grandma Bonnie Strand who volunteers at the Win-E-Mac school in Erskine and has been a volunteer since 2009, and Grandma Selma (Sam) Larson who volunteers at Norman County West School in Hendrum and has been a volunteer since 2001. Presenting the awards were Jean Halvorson (Foster Grandparent Coordinator), Jessica Luckow (Senior Programs Coordinator), and Jeanette Larson (Senior Programs Manager). Prior to the meal, the group was entertained by wellknown local author Eric Bergeson from Fertile. He spoke on “How to Live to be One Hundred and Three.” Eric spoke of his experiences in dealing with eldercare and his Aunt Olive who he cared for until she passed away recently at 103. Eric also had his most recent book A Treasury of Old Souls: Tending, Befriending and Defending the Elderly displayed.
Starfish Award Winners: (L-R) Selma (Sam) Larson, Emojean Anderson, Bonnie Strand
United Way Soup & Chili Cook-Off & Chocolate Extravaganza Jeanette Larson (Senior Programs Manager) took part in the 16th Annual United Way Soup & Chili Cook-Off & Chocolate Extravaganza on Thursday, October 8. Jeanette made "Chocolate Champion Cakes" to tie into the United Ways theme of "Champions of Change". The Foster Grandparent Program so had brochures and table tents to promote the program and show how important United Way dollars are to our local communities!
Foster Grandparents at Work Foster Grandparent Sharon Erickson working with children at St. Bernard's Catholic School in Thief River Falls, MN on October 14.
New Signage in East Grand Forks The new sign is out for everyone to see at the East Grand Forks Center. Looking great!
Upcoming November Calendar Items: * Nov. 2 - Migrant and Seasonal Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council * Nov. 11 - Veteran’s Day * Nov. 26 - Thanksgiving Day
Did You Know?... * You can receive more information on Tri-Valley’s programs and services by calling 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020. * You can keep up with Tri-Valley news on the TVOC website at www.tvoc. org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TVOCInc and on Twitter at @TriValley_TVOC. * Everyone can receive the Tri-Valley Newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like a copy please have them contact Mitch Bakken at 218-281-5832 or mitch.bakken@tvoc.org. Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. (TVOC) is a community action agency headquartered in Crookston, MN. It is our Mission to provide opportunities to individuals and communities in order to improve the quality of our lives. In existence since 1965, TVOC provides services in 84 counties in Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota. For more information on services offered by TVOC please call 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020. This information is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Contact us at 1-800-5847020 or by calling the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council Elects New Officers On Monday, October 5, elections were held for Officers at the Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council meeting. New officers were elected for the program year 2015/2016. They are from left to right; Andy Nissen, Vice President from the Crookston center, Jodi Bachmeier, Secretary from the Hendrum center, Angie Lindseth, President from the East Grand Forks center. Congratulations and thank you!
Fire Department Visits Crookston Center In honor of Fire Prevention month the Crookston Family Service Center was visited by Fireman Kent from the Crookston Fire Department. He shared an educational video with the children, talked to the children about fire safety and gave each of the classrooms a tour of a fire truck.
Fire Department Visits Monticello Center The Monticello fire fighters came to visit on Wednesday, October 21. The children had a chance to check out the inside of the fire truck and see the fire fighters in their full gear so they would not be afraid to go to them if a fire occurred. It was a beautiful day and they all enjoyed the talk and the tour of the fire truck.
Owatonna CulturFest The Owatonna Center took part in CulturFest in September. The center had a booth featuring Mexico and taught the children how to make Papel Picado. One of their teachers, Shaylma Salinas, attended representing Miss Minnesota Latina. The staff also participated in the parade for the opening ceremony!
Monticello Fall Festival The Monticello Center held its fall festival in October. They had many games for the children including pumpkin painting, drop the pine cone in the bucket, pumpkin pounding with golf tee’s, leaf pile with stickers hidden, face painting and many more. It was a great time and all the children from infants and toddlers to pre-school participated!